To: AD Pollard

[Cymaster]

Wow - so much written - with so little said. I, too, have been around the Clones for a long time. Quick recap

Mac - Spring game
Chizik - spring practice
Mac - HS teach fundamentals
Chizik - spring practice
Mac - constantly selling
Chizik - spring practice
Mac - best friend
Chizik - discipline
Mac - same ol, same ol
Chizik - something different (kind of like OUs spring game)

Down the road...

Mac - we won a half, but lost to Baylor, UConn, Kansas
Chizik - attitude and swagger = wins

I definately disagree with everything said in the starting post. But I also disagree with some of this post. Just because Mac was seen as a best friend, doesn't mean he wasn't a disciplinarian. And just because Chizik is a disciplinarian, does't mean he can't become a best friend or father figure to his players.

Also, Mac HAD to sell the program. Some people insinuate that because he was "selling the program" during press conferences and interviews he wasn't focused on coaching. I think that is BS. Aside from that, Chizik doesn't need to sell the program. Pollard is doing that for him.

Truth be told, Mac "resigned" because he was overly loyal to his assistant coaches. Who is to say that isn't going to happen to Chizik? He brought in a bunch of assistants from "minor" schools that he was familiar with due to previous jobs. If they aren't getting the job done, is he going to can them? Nobody knows but Chizik, and I hope the situation doesn't come up.

[CyPlainsDrifter]

Wow..... you're nuts. If anyone doesn't shsow up today because they saw a scrimmage instead of a game, they're nuts (and no true fan).

[Arkansas]

Wow is all I can say. Maybe you should sober up after the tailgate before you use the computer. I really hope you didn't send this to Pollard. This was a chance for us to see the team. Do you really want the other school's to scout this game if we showed everything?

Soooomebody's gonna have a headache in the morning....

[mj4cy]

Mr. Pollard -- You lost a huge opportunity today.

This afternoon, at the annual spring game, with a record(?) crowd in attendance, our football team put on the WORST performance I've ever been witness to in this spring event.

The anticipation could not have been higher. With a new coaching staff in place, with our marketing staff out trying to drum up support for this program and the "promise of things to come", we couldn't have laid a bigger egg.

This is, what, you're 2nd spring ISU game? It's my 34th. I've been here way longer that you, and I'll be here way longer when you're gone. I can't remember when I've been more disappointed in this event.

Remember when Coach Mac said that he didn't like to play late night games? You said, "Hey Mac, You coach the games - I'll handle the marketing" You were right! So now, you should have said, "Hey Coach Chiz -- I know you just want to have an ordinary practice -- but I've got to "sell this program and sell future hope" to our fan base. ISU put on a terrible show. The whole idea of a spring game, I would think, would be to build up anticipation and excitement for the coming fall. What a let-down. I’M going to be there in the fall, but how many people do you think walked away from our event today saying, "Well, if that's all there's going to be to it, I'm not going to come again."?

Wow! You, me, ISU, all of us -- missed out BIG TIME on an excellent opportunity to wrap our arms around some more of those "fringe" fans that are needed to grow any university's fan base.

Regardless of how Gene wants to run his program/practices -- Right now, at this point in time, ISU needs to PROMOTE it's football program. And, if ANYONE should know, you're the one that should realize that!

Up to now, you've been ONE STEP AHEAD OF EVERYBODY ELSE!

But this spring game was a big SWING and a MISS! It was VERY disappointing!

What have you been trying to accomplish these past few months? Build up anticipation, and SELL SEASON TICKETS! Ask yourself -- "Did this spring game help further that goal?" Answer -- "No!"

Could it have been a kickoff to the summer ticket selling season? Yes! But not now!

Were you out in the parking lots 4-5 hours prior to this game? We were! We were looking forward to a new era! Something to hang our support onto. We toasted Coach Mac for 12 great years, and hoped that both you and Coach Chiz would stay around long enough for ISU to get to greater heights. We're ready to drink the kool-ade and hope for better days to come, but you know what - we're been down this road before. Hey - We didn't just fall off the turnip truck yesterday, by the way.

So far, you've been excellent at looking at a certain situation, trying a different approach, and saying, "OK, let's try something different and see what happens. If things turn out positive, great! If not, we'll do something different." Hopefully, in the case of the spring FB game, you and Gene will make some positive changes.

Please let me know how we can help with our mutual Cyclone marketing efforts.

Thanks.

I don't know how to put this without sounding like a jerk, but the football team does not revolve around YOUR needs. Chizik's job is to give his team the best chance of winning games in the fall. JP put Chizik in the authority to do what he needs to make the program a success. Its not a dog and pony show like the huskers put on. This is no production. This is football. Chizik has his agenda and he wanted today to be nothing more than a scrimage in practice. To me, it was intense. You could tell the coaches meant business and its a go hard or go home atmosphere. I hope you thought twice before sending that to JP, but you are entitled to your opinion.

[dinger]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGDBR2L5kzI]YouTube - Iverson Practice![/ame]

[darts180]

I definately disagree with everything said in the starting post. But I also disagree with some of this post. Just because Mac was seen as a best friend, doesn't mean he wasn't a disciplinarian. And just because Chizik is a disciplinarian, does't mean he can't become a best friend or father figure to his players.

Also, Mac HAD to sell the program. Some people insinuate that because he was "selling the program" during press conferences and interviews he wasn't focused on coaching. I think that is BS. Aside from that, Chizik doesn't need to sell the program. Pollard is doing that for him.

Truth be told, Mac "resigned" because he was overly loyal to his assistant coaches. Who is to say that isn't going to happen to Chizik? He brought in a bunch of assistants from "minor" schools that he was familiar with due to previous jobs. If they aren't getting the job done, is he going to can them? Nobody knows but Chizik, and I hope the situation doesn't come up.

WOW!!!!! I think that Coach McCarney could have done a better job of selling the program if he would have just won more games.

And he was NEVER selling the program, he was selling Dan McCarney. He just happened to be the coach at Iowa State. And the fact that he made the same types of mistakes in year 12 that he did as a rookie tells me that he didn't develop like you are saying that he did. He almost let three totally inferior teams almost win because he refused to put the hammer down (like past years). Fortunately, his team quit on him, until the Missouri game, so we didn't have to watch him melt down praying that the clock would run out before he had to make a decision.

Mediacom just replayed last season, maybe you should watch the games over, before making these types of statements. But Jamie selling 30000 season tickets and 56,000 plus for the UNI and Nebraska games, was him selling the program. People stopped coming because the product was bad (again maybe you should watch the replays).

Coach McCarney fired coaches in 2003 to save his own *****. That card couldn't be played again, because instead of the record numbers of season tickets that we are selling, we would have been lucky to sell 25000 (and I am being generous with that number).

I do agree that we know nothing about what the assisstants are going to be like, or Gene for that matter.

Gosh I should have thought about answering this post because now I am going to get neg rep from my stalker (hi there clone12).

[HardcoreClone]

Mr. Pollard -- You lost a huge opportunity today.

This afternoon, at the annual spring game, with a record(?) crowd in attendance, our football team put on the WORST performance I've ever been witness to in this spring event.

The anticipation could not have been higher. With a new coaching staff in place, with our marketing staff out trying to drum up support for this program and the "promise of things to come", we couldn't have laid a bigger egg.

This is, what, you're 2nd spring ISU game? It's my 34th. I've been here way longer that you, and I'll be here way longer when you're gone. I can't remember when I've been more disappointed in this event.

Remember when Coach Mac said that he didn't like to play late night games? You said, "Hey Mac, You coach the games - I'll handle the marketing" You were right! So now, you should have said, "Hey Coach Chiz -- I know you just want to have an ordinary practice -- but I've got to "sell this program and sell future hope" to our fan base. ISU put on a terrible show. The whole idea of a spring game, I would think, would be to build up anticipation and excitement for the coming fall. What a let-down. I’M going to be there in the fall, but how many people do you think walked away from our event today saying, "Well, if that's all there's going to be to it, I'm not going to come again."?

Wow! You, me, ISU, all of us -- missed out BIG TIME on an excellent opportunity to wrap our arms around some more of those "fringe" fans that are needed to grow any university's fan base.

Regardless of how Gene wants to run his program/practices -- Right now, at this point in time, ISU needs to PROMOTE it's football program. And, if ANYONE should know, you're the one that should realize that!

Up to now, you've been ONE STEP AHEAD OF EVERYBODY ELSE!

But this spring game was a big SWING and a MISS! It was VERY disappointing!

What have you been trying to accomplish these past few months? Build up anticipation, and SELL SEASON TICKETS! Ask yourself -- "Did this spring game help further that goal?" Answer -- "No!"

Could it have been a kickoff to the summer ticket selling season? Yes! But not now!

Were you out in the parking lots 4-5 hours prior to this game? We were! We were looking forward to a new era! Something to hang our support onto. We toasted Coach Mac for 12 great years, and hoped that both you and Coach Chiz would stay around long enough for ISU to get to greater heights. We're ready to drink the kool-ade and hope for better days to come, but you know what - we're been down this road before. Hey - We didn't just fall off the turnip truck yesterday, by the way.

So far, you've been excellent at looking at a certain situation, trying a different approach, and saying, "OK, let's try something different and see what happens. If things turn out positive, great! If not, we'll do something different." Hopefully, in the case of the spring FB game, you and Gene will make some positive changes.

Please let me know how we can help with our mutual Cyclone marketing efforts.

Thanks.

Wow, I am now dumber for reading that. At no point in your incoherent rant do you actually say what was wrong with the game and what Jaime did wrong. It was a scrimmage! What the hell do you mean by having an ordinary practice?! If you consider that as an ordinary practice, then I have seen high schools, colleges, and pro teams work harder and do more than that. This was easily the biggest crowd that I have seen while going to Spring games, and this game was a way for fans to get better acquainted with the coaches and players. I guess I just don't understand what you are trying to get at? I did find your post both odd and humorous, so you at least gave me a good laugh!

[arganbright2]

Honest opinion from everybody that was there and saw the action, nobody was impressed. I live 1500 miles away from Ames and everybody I've talked to, listened to, etc was extremely disappointed. Offense was supposedly sub par to last years group and the defense had about as much penetration as a chess club captain at a whore house. Somebody drop me a line, how was the team??? I worry about them about as much as a one nippled mother with a set of triplets.

[brianhos]

I think the movie Billy Madison could sum up your post:

"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."

In the three times I read the original post, that is exactly what I was thinking. And I still don't get the point.

[candg4ever]

First, I don't agree with ISU0454. I was happy as hell to see some ISU football on a fairly nice spring day! I do agree that the spring practice time, especially for a new coach and staff, is for coaches and players to get on the same page and evaluate strenghts and weaknesses that will need to be addressed.

I have thought for years, howerver, that the spring game, in whatever format it's played, could be used as a springboard for anticipation and excitement over the summer months. With some planning and a little hype, it could also be used as a fund raiser and to help build our fan base.

[jtaconutz]

that was dumb

[CyBobby]

Here are some simple solutions to your problems ISU0454. Laid an Egg...Just schedule a regular spring game.

Fringe Fans...Extremely tough to capture since they're all over in Iowa City watching the squawks of eiu.

And the simplest of them all...Grow Fan Base..Real simple just win more games and the stands will be full of Clone Fans. It works in Iowa City and I am sure it will work in Ames!

Go Clone Footballers I will be there in the fall to see you play!!!

[amyk33]

I'm failing to see the exact argument you are attempting to make. That was 534 words and not one of them offered a suggestion for how it could have been better. I'm not sure what line of work you are in, but if I gave something like this to my boss, he may no longer be my boss.

My request for your future moaning would be more substance and less complaining. If you can't offer a solution to the problem, you just may be part of it.

[Splendid]

"Real change takes real change" Newt Gingrich

[mj4cy]

I'm failing to see the exact argument you are attempting to make. That was 534 words and not one of them offered a suggestion for how it could have been better. I'm not sure what line of work you are in, but if I gave something like this to my boss, he may no longer be my boss.

My request for your future moaning would be more substance and less complaining. If you can't offer a solution to the problem, you just may be part of it.

Couldn't have said it better. If we sit around and complain, but don't offer solutions, then why would anyone listen to us.